Taiji (philosophy)

Taiji
A diagram illustrating the concept of taiji, called a taijitu. The above design, depicting interlocking swirls of yin and yang around a central void, is the symbol's original form as introduced by Ming-era philosopher Lai Zhide.
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Literal meaning"Supreme pole/goal"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyintàijí
Wade–GilesT'ai Chi
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingtai3 gik6
IPA[tʰāːi kɪ̀k]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJthài-ke̍k
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUCTái-gĭk
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetThái cực
Chữ Hán太極
Korean name
Hangul태극
Hanja太極
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationTaegeuk
McCune–ReischauerT'aegŭk
Japanese name
Kanji太極
Kanaたいきょく
Transcriptions
RomanizationTaikyoku

In Chinese philosophy, taiji (Chinese: 太極; pinyin: tàijí; Wade–Giles: tʻai chi; trans. "supreme ultimate") is a cosmological state of the universe and its affairs on all levels, including the mutually reinforcing interactions between the two opposing forces of yin and yang, (a dualistic monism),[1][2] as well as that among the Three Treasures, the four cardinal directions, and the Five Elements—which together ultimately bring about the myriad things, each with their own nature. The taiji concept has reappeared throughout the technological, religious, and philosophical history of the Sinosphere, finding concrete application in techniques developed in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

  1. ^ Japanese Kampo Medicines for the Treatment of Common Diseases. Elsevier Science. 2017. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-128-09444-0.
  2. ^ Chang, Chi-yun (2013). Confucianism: A Modern Interpretation. World Scientific. pp. 223–224. ISBN 978-9-814-43989-3.